A final contract agreement has been signed off with the site’s main contractor, Eric Wright Construction.

A visual of the 59-apartment building, close to Tesco

Assuming that all goes to plan, the apartments will now be completed by June/July 2018.

The apartments – which will feature a roof terrace, private balconies, German designer kitchens, integrated ‘A’ grade appliances and bathrooms by Villeroy & Boch – will be released for off-plan sales later this year.

Nikal’s Phase One plans for Altair also include a new entrance for Altrincham Ice Rink and a new landscaped pedestrianised area with space for outside seating and pavement cafés.

A new view of the apartments, as seen from Moss Lane

Further phases of the Altair scheme would see the creation of a new ‘quarter’ within the town centre, with a new boulevard of restaurants, bars, retail and leisure outlets.

Many have doubted whether the scheme – for which Nikal first won the green light as far back as 2008 – would ever go ahead.

But speaking exclusively to Altrincham Today at Marketing Profile’s The Profile Club on Friday, Sean Anstee confirmed it definitely would.

He said: “We’ve been working with Nikal. This is a scheme that’s been a long time in planning so we’ve been asking the questions about where it is.

How the new apartment building will change the Altrincham skyline, as seen from the interchange

“At the moment the previously consented scheme remains as is, there’s no reason to think it’s going to be any different, and all of us are trying to work together to say how do we actually get on site, because when that happens it will give momentum to a project that everybody really wants to see happen.”

Anstee denied suggestions that the recent regeneration of Altrincham as a hub for independent businesses and traders made the Altair scheme seem somewhat incongruous.

“I think it will be complementary,” he said. “Ultimately, what we are trying to do with Altrincham is to get very distinct offers in different parts of the town. I think it’s great we have seen independent businesses spring up around the market and along Stamford New Road, and Altair will complement them.

“The other thing about Altair is that it will get more people living in Altrincham town centre, both because it’s a great place to live, but also to support the daytime and nighttime economies. That can do nothing but support the continued regeneration of Altrincham.”

A visual showing how Altair could look, a potential attraction for more premium brands

Another view of the proposed Altair development – a planning application for this stage will follow later this year

A night-time view of the main public realm that’s part of future phases of Altair